Automatic copper tube cleaner



Dec. 17, 1940. E HORNE 2,225,272

AUTOMATIC COPPER TUBE CLEANER Filed June 20, 1938 INVENTOR ATTORNEYSPatented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to tube cleaners, and has for its primaryobject to provide a simple and elfective tool which will remove the bursand roughness on the end of a tube made in cutting 5' the tube to arequired size. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube cleaner that willautomatically clean and remove burs, whether said burs occur on theouter surface or on the inner surface thereof, with means also providedto govern the amount of tube cleaned.

The herein described invention finds its greatest usage in cleaningcopper tubes that are used with sweat type solder fittings and includesa circular plate rotatably mounted on a shaft, which shaft may be drivenby any desired means. Mounted on the plate in spaced relation are aplurality of bearing members which slidably support the cleaningelements for cleaning the outer .surfaces of the tube. A steel conehaving an abrasive surface is mounted centrally of the plate and isadapted to effectively clean and remove burs from the inner surface ofthe tube. The steel cone is also adapted to govern the amount of surfacecleaned depending upon the diameter of the tube and its position on thecone.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of thematter of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof will behereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that theillustrated embodiment of the invention is given solely by way ofexample, and is essentially non-limitative upon the scope of theinvention, except as expressed in the sub- 35' joined claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the new and improved tube cleanerand illustrating the brush in position for cleaning a tube.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the cleaning elements andtaken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, itwill be noted that there is provided a circular plate 5 mounted forrotation on the end of a shaft 6, the shaft being adapted to be rotatedby any desired means. It is to be understood that the circular plate andshaft may be integrally formed or the individual parts united by anypreferred means. Mounted on the plate 5 and in spaced relation theretoare a plurality of bearing members 1, said members projecting laterallyfrom the face of the plate and secured thereto by welding or othersimilar means. The

bearing members! are provided for adjustably supporting the cleaningelements for removing and cleaning the burs from the outer surface ofthe tube. Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will benoted that an arm 8. is dis- 5 posed within each member 1 and supportsat its lowermost end a cleaning element in the form of a brush 9. Thearms 8 extend parallel with the face of the plate 5 and, are verticallymovable within the openings formed in the members 1. 1 For preventingaccidental dislodgement of the arms 8 from the members 7, there isprovided a cotter pin or the like In disposed in the upper end of eacharm.

As afore indicated, the cleaning elements in the 5 form of brushes aresupported on the lower ends of the arms 8 and said brushes are mountedin backing strips ll secured to the arm 8. It is to be understood thatthe bristles of the brushes 8 are to be formed of a material that willreadily clean the surfaces of copper tubes and the like.

An adjusting plate I2 is also carried by each arm 8 and is attachedthereto by means of a pin l3, and referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, itwill be noted that the lowermost portion of the adjusting plate extendsabove the bristles 9. It is the purpose of the plates l2 to contact thetube when it is inserted and to thereby raise the brush while centeringand positioning the work. The adjusting plates I2, as illustrated inFig. 2 of the drawing, are formed with a curved front surface [4 whichfacilitates its sliding contact withthe inserted tube l5. In otherwords, as the tube is inserted, the end thereof will first contact thecurved surfaces I 4 of the plates l2, and further insertion of the tubewill cause the plates l2 and arms 8 to be raised carrying with them thebrushes 9. When the tube is finally positioned for cleaning, the brushes9 will rest against the outer surface thereof and the plates l2 will beout of engagement with the tube.

A coil spring l6 encircles each arm 8 and is positioned between the pinl3 and member 7 respectively. The coil spring l0 exerts a constantpressure downwardly on the cleaning elements 9 5 thereby assuringconstant contact of the brushes with the tube.

As hereinbefore pointed out, in the cutting of the tubes, burs quitefrequently occur on the inner surface and end thereof and the presentinvention provides a means of cleaning and removing the inner surfaceburs simultaneously with the cleaning of the outer surface. The meansfor accomplishing this purpose includes a steel cone l6 attached to theinner surface of the plate 5 andpreierably disposed in the centralportion thereof. The cone I6 is provided with stepped inner surface ofthe circular plate 5. Should a size smaller tube be cleaned the samewould rest upon the middle step and in view of the width of each step,the smaller the tube being worked upon the smaller the amount of outersurface being cleaned. This feature is readilyunderstandable from aninspection of the drawing.

It may be desired to house the various Working parts of the device andfor accomplishing this purpose there is provideda protecting plate l8preferably circular in cross section and attached to the plate 5 by anydesired means. The plate l8 forms a housing, thus protecting the variousparts from dirt and injury,

Fromthe above description it is believed that the operation of thedevice is readily. apparent. A tube I5 is inserted between the plates l2which will raise the brushes, against the tension of the springs it,until said tube is in abutting relation with the face of the plate.After-the tube has been positionedon the:cone I6, the circular plate 5through the shaft 6 is rotated carrying with it the brushes 9 and conel6. Constant rotation will effectively remove bursand the like from theouter and inner surfaces of the tube, thereby preparing the same for asweat type solder fitting.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extendedapplication and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing norto the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes andmodifications may be made therein asdo not affect the spirit of theinvention nor exceedthe scope thereof pressed in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A tube cleaner of the character described comprising, a plate, meansfor rotating said plate, means carried by and extending laterallyof saidplatejfor slidably supportinggcleaning elements in spaced relationthereon, means for guiding the tube into position for cleaning,'meansfor mainas extaining said cleaning elements and guide means in contactwith the tube being cleaned, an abrasive element coaxially related tothe axis of rotation of said plate, with said plate rotating in a planeat right angles to the axis of the tube being cleaned, and means onrsaidabrasive element adapted to support one end of the tube and to clean theinner surface thereof.

l 2. A tube cleaner of thecharacter described rotation of saidplate,-with saidplate rotating in a plane at right-angles tothe axis ofthe tube being cleaned, said abrasive'element being substantiallycone-shaped with a'stepped surfaceior supporting one end of varioussizedtubes and to clean the inner surface thereof; 1

EDWARD D. HORNE.

